Multi Faith Leaders Open Memorial Garden

total bir rass · July 11, 2005

hardly any sikh leaders have been involved with the 7/7, but its nice to see a sikh leader finally geting involved, the Singh involved is from the Sikh Missionary Society U.K. (Regd).

Minister opens memorial garden

11 July 2005

Cultural Secretary Tessa Jowell and Mayor of London Ken Livingstone joined some of the leaders of the capital's faith communities to open the first memorial to the victims of last week's terror attacks.

The London Memorial Garden had been established by Westminster City Council in Victoria Embankment Gardens in the heart of the capital.

It is shortly to be followed by a memorial flower garden in Russell Square, near the site of one of the Tube bombings.

Council leader, Simon Milton, said he hoped the garden would become "the quiet place where anyone touched by the attacks can lay flowers and grieve".

Ms Jowell, Mr Livingstone, the religious leaders and dignitaries, including the leader of London's successful Olympic bid, Lord Coe, all signed a book of condolence before laying flowers in the garden in a silent and dignified ceremony.

Ms Jowell wrote: "The strength of London and her people is in diversity and tolerance. Our deepest sympathy is with the grieving families."

Mr Livingstone's entry in the book read: "The city will endure. It is the future of our world - tolerance and change."

The culture secretary laid a wreath of white roses, the mayor white lilies, beneath a historic Indian bean tree planted by the Queen at the time of her coronation in 1953 to mark her accession to the throne.

Each of them bowed their heads and stood in silent thought for a few moments.

Also laying wreaths were the Anglican Bishop of Stepney, the Rt Rev Stephen Oliver, the chief executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Jon Benjamin, the secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, Sir Iqbal Sacranie, the secretary-general of the Hindu Forum of Britain, Ramesh Kallidai and the general-secretary of the Sikh Missionary Society, Mohinder Singh Chahal.